Baton device and twirl holder therefor



1964 w. G. FLETCHER 3,

BATON DEVICE AND TWIRL HOLDER THEREFOR Filed June 5, 1961 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,120,147 BATON DEVME AND TWIRL HGLDER THEREFOR William G. Fietcher, 2.18 Linwood Ave, Begota, NJ. Filed June 5, i961, Ser. No. ill-4,979 1 Claim. (U. 84-477) This invention relates in general to batons or twirling devices, and in particular to a new and useful baton construction including severable portions each of which forms a drumstick and including a twirling hand attachment therefor.

The present invention is an improvement in baton constructions, particularly in the provision of a baton which includes severable portions which may be easily threaded together and which, when separated, will each form a drumstick which will enhance the play value of the device. The twirling device is particularly appropriate as a toy for children who wish to emulate older children who are drum majors or drum majorettes. By making the baton of severable portions, it is possible to apply a twirling sleeve on the central shaft portion of the baton when the parts are separated. This is an improvement over the previous construction where it was necessary to remove one of the end bulbous portions in order to insert a device of this character.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, there is provided an improved twirling holder which includes a sleeve mounted for pivotal rotation about a handholding portion which is threaded to receive threaded ends of the individual drumstick members which, when assembled to the sleeve, will form a twirling baton.

The invention also provides an improved hand twirling attachment which may be easily assembled over an integral baton member by placing an open-ended portion thereover and fixing it in place on the baton by a set screw.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved baton construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a twirling baton including severable portions and including a twirling attachment therefor which may be inserted over one of the severable portions and which permits twirling of the baton about a hand-holding portion thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a twirling attachment for a baton including a U-shaped clamping portion which may be fitted over the baton and clamped in place by means of a set screw and further including a handle portion which is pivotally connected to the clamping portion to permit twirling movement of the baton by grasping the hand portion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a baton which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claim annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partly elevational and a partly sectional View of a baton and twirling attachment therefor constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary eievational and partly sectional view of another embodiment of a baton and twirling device constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of another embodiment of twirling device and baton;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of a baton and twirling device; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are transverse sectional and end views,

3,l2@,i47 Patented Feb. 4, 19%4 respectively, of still another embodiment of baton and twirling device.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein, as indicated in FIG. 1, includes a baton generally designated 10 having a pair of severable shank or shaft portions 12 and 14, each of which forms a drumstick in which bulbous portions or resilient ball members 16 and 18, respectively, form the drumstick heads. Part 12 is provided with an externally threaded central extension 20 which is threaded into a complementarily internally threaded recess of the part 14.

In the embodiment illustrated, when the parts 12 and 14 are separated, a twirling handle device generally designated 22 may be inserted over one of the parts. The twirling handle device 22 includes a separate sleeve portion 24 having a central bore 26 which is adapted to be slid over one or the other of the parts 12 or 14. The sleeve portion 24 is rotatably mounted on a handle portion 28 to permit the handle portion to be held in the hand and the baton twirled around by rotating the sleeve portion 24 in respect to the handle portion 28.

A feature of the construction is that when it is desired to either remove the hand twirling portion or to separate the portions 12 and 14 to employ them as drumsticks, it is merely necessary to unscrew the parts and to cover the threaded portion 20 with a hand grip cover member 34 which is also adapted to be inserted on the handle portion 28. Thus, the two baton portions form complete usable drumsticks for the entertainment of a child using the toy.

In the embodiment indicated in FIG. 2, a hand-holding portion 32 of a hand twirling member 34 is rotatably connected to a sleeve portion 36 having an internally threaded transverse sleeve 38 adapted to receive threaded portions 40 and 42 of baton portions 44 and 46, respectively. Thus, the hand twirling portion 34 is equipped with means for threadably engaging the baton portions to permit their separation when desired.

In FiG. 3, a hand twirling portion generally designated 48 includes a handle portion 50 on which is mounted a rotatable collar member 52 which carries a U-shaped clamping portion 54 which may be fitted over a baton 56 and clamped to the baton by means of a set screw 58.

In FIG. 4, another embodiment is employed which includes a hand twirling portion at which includes a handle portion 62 and a collar portion 64 rotatable thereon which carries a cover resilient member 66 which fits over a baton 68 and is held thereon under the force of the resilient member 66 alone.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, there is provided a baton 72 of wood or plastic with a twirling device generally designated 74. The twirling device includes a central shank portion or bolt 7'6 which is threaded into a C-shaped clamping portion 7 8 an amount sufiicient to grip the baton 72 therein. A hollow sleeve handle portion 89 of wood, plastic or metal is rotatable on the bolt 76. The bolt includes a widened head portion 82 permitting it to be threaded into the clamping portion 78 by turning with the fingers.

Thus, the invention provides a toy which is capable of many play uses by a child, including the uses as a twirling device as well as drumsticks for drumming. A feature of the twirling construction is that the parts are separable to facilitate the installation of a handle attachment for facilitating the twirling. In addition, the separable parts permit the portions to be used as drumsticks by the child. In some instances, it is desirable to use bulbous portions 7i indicated in PEG. 4, which are made of a composition similar to an ordinary sponge rubber ball.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise Without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

A combination baton and drum stick set, comprising a holder including a threaded sleeve portion and a handle portion connected at right angles thereto, including a stationary portion and a rotatable gripping portion, a first drum stick element having one end with a bulbous portion and an opposite end threaded into said sleeve, and a second drum stick portion having one end with a bulbous portion and an opposite end threaded into said sleeve, said first and second drum stick portions with said sleeve forming, when assembled, a baton which may be twirled by holding the rotatable gripping portion of said handle portion.

References tCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,739,275

Zipperstein Dec. 10, 1929 2,812,683 Harrold et a1 Nov. 12, 1957 2,882,779 Hooker Apr. 21, 1959 3.001468 Hanna Nov. 7, 1961 

